Civil War Course Offered at BSC

A Civil War course at Bluefield State College recently included area reenactors who appeared before the class in full Confederate and Union uniforms, complete with all of their field equipment. Members of the area 2nd Virginia Cavalry participated.

Course instructor James Worsham, who had formerly presented similar living history programs when he worked with the National Park Service, said the correctly-unformed and equipped visitors were highly knowledgeable, and were a definite asset to the class. "Many college instructors have a great wealth of ideological knowledge of the Civil War," Worsham noted, "but many have little understanding of the everyday life of the soldier."

"While wars are fought over political conflicts, it is the story of courage of the men who fought in these wars that is our most valuable legacy," he continued. "What these men and their families endured are a reflection of American values. These Americans on both sides were willing to suffer to defend a cause which they valued more than their lives."

A military historian, Worsham has completed coursework for his doctorate in American History at Middle Tennessee State University.